Latest Developments in Addiction Research

The latest developments in drug addiction research particularly in the area of neuro science has made a huge contribution to the “addiction industry” in recent times.
A lot of these advances have come from Cambridge University. (It does not get better than that in terms of credibility). According to a recently published article “The Addicted Brain” the locus of activity for most of the heavily used and abused drugs including cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, nicotine and alcohol has been identified.
Some of the most interesting discoveries are:
• That drug addiction is a form of aberrant learning resulting from a ‘hijacking’ of the natural reward system
• That dopamine release in an area of the brain called the nucleus accumbens is responsible for amphetamine’s stimulant behavioral effects.
• That drug cravings arise in part from memories for cues that have become associated with the drug”.
Researchers are now focusing on the ways to disrupt the addiction cycle and almost diminishing the power of these destructive memories.
We are aware of the fact that many addicts are “thrown into” these memories around the people they used with, the places where they used and the activities undertaking while using. The memories are triggered normally by the senses, be they visual, auditory and sometimes most powerfully olfactory senses. It is interesting that the recall normally centres on the euphoria or positive aspects of using rather than the destructive memories.
Teams of researchers are involved isolating those factors, including genetic ones that predict whether someone is vulnerable to the effects of drugs of abuse.
Cambridge scientists are using all forms of knowledge gathering techniques with emphasis on the “neurochemical and molecular aspects of addiction” to come up with new forms of treatment, some of them of a “pharmaceutical’ nature, to develop effective treatment programmes.
With relapse rates as high as they are with the disease of addiction, those who help in the treatment process are obliged to remain current with all forms of new innovation to assist in the treatment process.
With the advances intersecting the contribution of ‘hard” neuro scientific research to the softer behavioural sciences we can only develop much better advances to helping our clients who suffer from the disease of addiction.
Crossroads Recovery Centre is continually striving to use all tools principles and methodologies to make this contribution.

Stories of Recovery

• The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
  Oliver VG
  Read more
• On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
  Johan B
  Read more
• I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
  Carla S
  Read more
• "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
  Angelique J
  Read more

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Addiction is a family disease

Alcoholism and drug addiction have obvious and well documented effects on chronic substance abusers. Prolonged abuse of drugs and/or alcohol will deteriorate a person’s physical health, impair his or her mental functioning and damage the spirit. But how will these adverse effects impact the addict’s immediate family, and how will the damage manifest itself? Recovery is possible (Behavioral Health Inc. 2018).

While it can be easy to blame the person who is an addict or alcoholic, the entire family usually contributes to the continuation of the disease. A person in active addiction can be quite manipulative and convincing, and family members often have a difficult time saying no. The relationship then develops into a codependent relationship (Simple Recovery, 2018).

Codependent relationships happen very frequently with addicts and their families. Codependency can be defined as a condition that affects people in a way that they enable a person close to them to commit abuse by aiding and protecting that person (Recovery Direct, 2018). Families will hide the problem and help the addict or alcoholic in various ways. They sacrifice themselves and so not seek help (Recovery Direct, 2018).

Codependents usually react negatively when it is suggested that they seek treatment. They may feel that they did not cause the problem and they are not addicts themselves (Recovery Direct, 2018). However, there are organisations that offer help to families struggling with codependency.

Alanon; Naranon and Codependents Anonymous are programs of recovery from codependency and are a fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is to develop healthy relationships. These organisations are a  place where people can share their experiences, strengths and hopes in the effort to find freedom in their relationships with others and themselves. These programs follow a Twelve Step Program which is a central part of their suggested recovery program.

Stories of Recovery

• The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
  Oliver VG
  Read more
• On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
  Johan B
  Read more
• I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
  Carla S
  Read more
• "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
  Angelique J
  Read more

Read more

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Crossroads Recovery Centre: The importance of family involvement.

One of the most heart wrenching and overwhelming moments in a family’s life comes at the point when they realize that a family member is addicted, either to any form of process or substance. Be it alcohol or drugs or the more subtle yet as damaging addiction processes such as gambling, sex or even food.

Families should theoretically be the safe place where positive nurturing takes place,  however can also be the environment where self-destructive and negative  behavior,  attitudes and emotions grow, including substance abuse and addiction.

New neuro science research has confirmed that genetics as well as actions that children are exposed to, in their parents, can become patterns of behavior that will and can be very destructive to their  future growth and lives.  Some of the feelings that families feel if a loved one turns to some addictive substance or process are:

• Betrayal
• Abandonment
• Rage and anger
• Sadness and depression
• Overwhelming feelings of helplessness and hopelessness to intervene in the person’s life.

Understanding the nature of addiction and what treatment options are available begins to alleviate these feelings for family members.

The reality is that, while the harsh recognition that a loved one is addicted can be devastating, it much easier to bare and deal with when there is the support, help and understanding of specialists in the field of addiction. Substance abuse counsellors, who are usually recovering addicts themselves, can help the family cope with the effects of addiction. This often involves tools to repair broken relationships and build trust again between family members.

At Crossroads Recovery Centre we regard the disease of addiction as a holistic and systemic concern that needs to be approached in a holistic way.

In this regard we have extensive involvement with the family of the clients in a number of different ways.

• Active involvement in the admission process which helps to clarify, for and with the family, expectations centre rules and policies and future family involvement.
• A few days into the process a family counselling session with the client’s counselor.
• Every two weeks a family and friends support group is run and people are encouraged to attend.

All these activities contribute to a successful addiction recovery process.

Stories of Recovery

• The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
  Oliver VG
  Read more
• On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
  Johan B
  Read more
• I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
  Carla S
  Read more
• "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
  Angelique J
  Read more

Read more

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The Hard Reality of Alcohol & Drug Addiction

According to recent studies provided by the Society for Study of Addiction (SSA) an estimated 4.9% of the world’s adult population i.e. approximately 240 million people, suffer from Alcohol use disorder and an estimated 15 million people are addicted to injection drugs such as Heroin, Pethidine and Methamphetamine. Substance abuse is at an all-time high.

In fact, in an article from Internationally recognised author, Lorelie Rozzano, a writer, blogger and recovery advocate who works in the field of mental health and addiction it is noted that addiction kills more people than cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined. Many of us know and love someone with this illness. It is time we started talking about it.

The SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug dependence (SANCA) stated that there is an “alarming increase” of people under the age of 21 in treatment centres. A study was done with 57000 respondents in schools which showed that 34% of teens had used drugs & alcohol in the last 6 months, 32% in the last month and 27% had used substances in the last week. The studies suggests children  under the age of 17 made up 22% of the people in treatment centres.

According to the United Nations Office for Drugs & Crime UNODC, in the   annual drug report of 2017, indicated that over 190000 drug related deaths were recorded in that year. These included opioids, prescription medications and heroin abuse.

An estimated 1.6 million people are living with HIV, 6.1 million people living with Hepatitis and 3.1 million people living with both which has been attributed directly to needle use.

Drug & alcohol abuse is a reality that we face on a daily basis. It negatively impacts our family, relationships, health, quality of life and wellbeing and can lead ultimately to disability, poor health, co-occurring disorders such as depression and other related psychiatric conditions, and eventually death.

Stop your loved ones from becoming another statistic and call us today for professional help, guidance and support.

Stories of Recovery

• The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
  Oliver VG
  Read more
• On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
  Johan B
  Read more
• I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
  Carla S
  Read more
• "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
  Angelique J
  Read more

Read more

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